The Law Office of Alice A. Strömbom helps workers in Sacramento when they’re injured on the job and want to file for workers’ compensation. Across the spectrum of accidents in the city, car accidents are by far the most common. So, it’s not surprising that a lot of them happen while you’re on the clock. Our team can help you file your workers’ comp claim and get the right benefits. Set up a free consultation today to learn more.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
You probably already know how easy it is to be in a car accident in Sacramento, but what happens when this happens while you’re on the job? Even if your employer has workers’ compensation insurance, dealing with claims, medical bills, and lost wages can feel overwhelming. That’s where having someone on your side makes a real difference. We can help by:
- Breaking down your rights and options in plain language so you know exactly what to expect.
- Collecting the right evidence and filing your claim properly so it doesn’t get delayed or denied.
- Dealing with your employer and the insurance company to make sure your claim is handled fairly.
Being injured at work is stressful enough without having to also handle forms, deadlines, and insurance battles. Our goal is to make the process easier and less stressful. This lets you worry about one thing–getting better.
Can I File For Workers’ Compensation After a Car Accident?
One of the biggest questions you probably have after you’re hurt in a car accident is whether or not you can file for workers’ compensation. The answer is yes–if it happened while you were “performing work-related duties.”
This means:
- Driving a company vehicle
- Making deliveries
- Running errands required by your job
- Transporting equipment for your employer
Obviously, this narrows things down to a certain type of worker, but if you fall into that category, workers’ comp benefits are available to you. And with that, the normal workers’ comp process is in place, where you’ll need to:
- Request a claim form
- Complete and submit it to your boss or HR
- They turn it in to their workers’ comp insurance carrier
- The insurance carrier starts its investigation and either accepts the claim or denies it
If it’s accepted, you’ll start receiving benefits tied to your:
- Medical care for your injuries from the car accident itself
- Some lost wages
- Temporary or permanent disability benefits, depending on the scope of your injuries
- Job retraining costs
One of the biggest hurdles with any car accident is showing fault, but thankfully, you don’t have to worry about that with a workers’ comp claim. It’s a no-fault system, so if you can show that the accident happened while you were working, you’ll likely start getting benefits. But that brings up another question: what can you do to get the most out of your benefits?
What Information Can Help Your Claim and Benefits?
While the workers’ comp process is different than normal when there’s a car accident, much of the foundation of your claim is going to rest on the same thing: information. It’s about getting what you can at the scene–and then later putting it together with other documentation that’s available after things settle down. Here’s what that information is and how it can help your claim (and benefits):
- A simple timeline of where you were, what you were doing for work, the time of day, the road conditions, and anything unusual you noticed before the collision can all help. You’re trying to show that the accident happened while you were working, which is one of the key requirements for workers’ comp.
- Police or incident reports. If police officers respond to the collision, they should create an official report. This carries a lot of weight because it lays out the basic facts and may even note who appeared to be at fault. Having this report attached to your claim helps confirm that the accident was real, documented, and tied to your job duties.
- Medical records. Every medical step you take after the accident—ER visits, x-rays, treatment plans, therapy—creates a paper trail. These records connect your injuries directly to the crash and show the extent of the harm you’re dealing with. That connection is crucial for getting your benefits approved.
- Pictures/video. Pictures of the scene, the damage, skid marks, or your own injuries can fill in details that words sometimes can’t. Visual evidence helps show how serious the accident was and strengthens your account of what happened.
- Vehicle records. If you were driving a company vehicle, proof that it was regularly serviced and in safe condition can protect you from unfair blame for what happened. These records show that the accident wasn’t caused by neglect or improper use, helping prevent issues that might hurt your benefits.
In the days and weeks after the actual accident, you’ll want to keep track of this information, and to do what you can to keep adding to it up to the point you file your claim. Like any claim, the stronger your information and evidence is, the stronger the potential benefits will be.
What Injuries Could You Be Facing After a Car Accident?
Just because it happens while you’re on the job doesn’t change the fundamental issue with a car accident: injuries. Some of these are obvious, while some are hidden at first and only come up later. One way or the other, you could be looking at a range of injuries like:
- Whiplash or neck injuries
- Back and spinal injuries
- Broken bones or fractures
- Head injuries and concussions
- Sprains, strains, and bruises
- Emotional trauma
Remember, even a minor injury can throw off your work schedule if you don’t get things taken care of right away. And when it comes to getting workers’ comp benefits, all the details matter. Our team will be there to support you throughout the process, though.
Get Fair Workers’ Comp Benefits After a Sacramento Car Accident
You could argue that being injured in a car accident at work is actually more stressful, painful, and confusing than if it happened outside of work. You’re still dealing with the same issues, yet you’re also faced with significant time off, missed pay, and mounting bills.
That’s where the Law Office of Alice A. Strömbom can step in and make sure you get the workers’ compensation benefits you’re going to need to get back on your feet. To get the process started, reach out today for a free consultation.